“I’m still currently going through it,” Coogler said of losing his dear friend. “One thing that I’ve learned in my short or long time on this Earth is that it’s very difficult to have perspective on something while you’re going through it. This is one of the more profound things that I’ve gone through in my life, having to be a part of keeping this project going without this particular person who is like the glue who held it together.”
The filmmaker added, “That said, you have a professional life, you’ve got a personal life. Personal life, I’m going to say that when you work in something that you love, those things blend, they come together. I’m trying to find a work-life balance. But I’m not there yet, so this is without a question the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my professional life.” Coogler concluded by saying Boseman’s death has inspired him to continue telling the “Black Panther” story because of what Boseman stood for in the pantheon of not only the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also in Black storytelling. “This one hurts and stings, but it’s also incredibly motivating,” Coogler said. “I’m incredibly sad to lose him but I’m also incredibly motivated that I got to spend time with him. You spend your life hearing about people like him. For this individual, who is an ancestor now, I was there for it. It’s such an incredible privilege that fills you up as much as it knocks you out. So often as Black people, we have to pick up the pieces after loss.” Coogler is also an Oscar contender this year for his role as a producer on the film “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
